A dad-of-five was fired from his job after informing his bosses he needed to self-isolate because of his severely-ill step-son.
Landscape gardener Adam Dobbs received an urgent email from government health bosses on Monday warning him to stay indoors due to coronavirus.
It was just before Prime Minister Boris Johnson's evening speech to the nation, declaring a near-total UK lockdown.
The advice was because the 29-year-old's step-son - five-year-old Leo Mitchell - is extremely vulnerable to Covid-19, with even a slight infection at risk of killing him.
The youngster is on a life-support machine, and suffers from Infantile Pompe disease - affecting only 25-30 children in the UK - which means sugars harmfully enlarge his vital organs.
With Mr Dobbs still moving outdoors, even if only at supermarkets and in parks while social distancing, he could still bring the virus home, putting Leo in grave danger.
Concerned, the gardener contacted his bosses at Firtree Landscapes Ltd, who are based in Birkenhead, to try and discuss his options.
But hours later he was sacked.
So far, Firtree has not explained the exact reason why.
In the message sent to Mr Dobbs, it said: "Apologies for this email, but I have been trying to contact you on the phone.
"I am writing to terminate your contract of employment with effect from close of play yesterday, this is due to not following company policies and procedures.
"Once I have all the necessary information together, I will formally write to you.
"Jo."
Mr Dobbs, who lives in Bebington with his 26-year-old wife Kara, told the ECHO: "This is unfair dismissal on the grounds of discrimination.
"What they have done is unnecessary, I don't know what their problem is, they've left me and my family out in the cold at a time of national crisis.
"They have not explained about this failure to follow policy and procedures.
"It's evil."
Mr Dobbs has two children from a different relationship, and lives with three himself, aged five, three and one, in his current Wirral home.
He has worked for Firtree for eight months, maintaining the grounds outside schools and care homes in Merseyside, earning £8.30 an hour during 40-hour weeks.
He has since been in touch with the Citizens Advice Bureau and ACAS, an Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service.
Mr Dobbs fears he'll not be eligible for the 80% Universal Credit emergency fund for Covid-19, and thinks he'll only be able to pick up Jobseeker's Allowance, just over £70 a week.
His wife doesn't earn money as she cares full-time for Leo and studies for a university course.
He added: "I don't know how we'll pay the bills.
"I'm reading up about everything I can, trying to figure how to survive.
"If we don't sort something soon, it will affect our essentials and food will eventually run out.
"I need to find a way forward out of this, it's so stressful."
Mr Dobbs claims he has repeatedly tried to contact Firtree to explain how he has "not following company policies and procedures," but says the firm is yet to reply.
His wife Kara added: "'I'm disgusted that my husband lost his job due to my child on life-support asking for advice."
The ECHO spoke to Firtree Landscapes which said it was aware of the matter, confirmed Mr Dobbs had been written to, but declined to "discuss information of an ex-employee."
The spokeswoman added: "There is no further comment from Firtree Landscapes Ltd."
Infantile Pompe disease is a very uncommon genetic illness which means there are not enough enzymes in the body to break down sugars and can lead to bloated organs, including the heart.
The NHS says there are up to 50 kinds of Pompe Disesae which altogether affect 14 in 100,000 births in the UK.
